Larvae or grub of the chafer beetle. Lawns laid on ground prepared with sand can be prone to damage from chafer grubs as will lawns in sandy light soil.
The grubs have a creamy white, plump, curled shrimp like appearance with 3 sets of legs and brown mouth parts. They are the size of a 20 pence piece and live just below the soil surface eating the roots of your grass. The eggs are laid in the spring and the larvae or grubs hatch and eat the roots of the grass. The chafer grubs continue to eat the roots of the grass until they hibernate in the winter.
Obvious tell tale signs are areas of turf browning the areas damaged can rapidly increase in size as the grubs continue to eat. In some cases the damage is so great and quick it is possible to lift sections of turf off the ground and roll it up like a mat as the grass roots have been disconnected from the turf.
Birds swarming on the lawn pecking the turf is another sign that you have some infestation as the grubs are a popular food source for birds and even foxes and other wildlife as large as badgers eat the grubs.
Damage increases as the numbers and size of the chafer grub increases through the summer. They prefer sandy soils and will borrow deeper into the soil during periods of cold weather from November onwards.
Treatment is relatively simple and inexpensive. The pesticide must be applied by a competent professional and once applied is usually fully effective within 72 hours. West Norfolk Lawn Care treat many lawns for insect damage.
Our treatments are cost effective and efficient.
